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Friday Afternoon Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 12:45:47 PM EST
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As regular readers know, the sports teams I live and die with, the ones where I suffer (as do the people around me) when they lose, are the Florida Gators and the New York Yankees. I love all sports, from NFL football to track to soccer to cycling, but those are the teams I am emotionally invested in.

Throughout their history, the Yankees have been TEH EVIL. The newfangled Yankee Haters think they are originals, but Yankee Hating is a longstanding tradition. There was even a Tony Award winning musical about it.

What is new is that Florida has become TEH EVIL nationally (the Ole Ball Coach (aka Evil Genius) inspired plenty of hatred in the SEC and FSU but not so much nationally.) For the time being, Florida has supplanted Notre Dame as the most hated college football team in the country. I dunno, but, like Woody Allen in Annie Hall, the Evil Queen in Snow White is starting to look appealing to me.

This is an Open Thread.

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    Friday Afternoon Open Thread | 125 comments (125 topical)

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    Someone please explain (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by me only on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:15:15 PM EST
    TEH.  Yes it is a misspelling of The, but why?

    It's a mocking term (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:38:33 PM EST
    Hillary is "teh evil."
    Obama is "teh evil." (or teh awesome)

    It's a way of making fun of morons (or should I say 'maroons'?) whose hair is so on fire that they can't type right...or spell right.

    That was always my take on it, anyway.

    Parent

    Do you mean (none / 0) (#91)
    by me only on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:54:23 PM EST
    morans?  Cause if you really mean maroons you have just confused me on a Friday.  (And that is an unpardonable sin.)

    Parent
    As others have indicated, (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by ChiTownDenny on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:44:41 PM EST
    it's basically a mock of the use of "THE" to stress importance;  "teh election".

    Parent
    1337 (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by eric on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:45:13 PM EST
    It's mainstream leet speak.  LINK

    Parent
    Think of TEH as the super-superlative. (none / 0) (#61)
    by steviez314 on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:21:54 PM EST
    Good, better, best, teh best.

    Bad, evil, teh evil.

    Etc.

    Parent

    Hmm (none / 0) (#66)
    by me only on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:39:47 PM EST
    So TEH gays (the usage I have seen the most) is what?

    Parent
    Really? (5.00 / 2) (#68)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:41:56 PM EST
    You didn't see TEH ONE all during last year?

    Parent
    I just thought... (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:45:13 PM EST
    everybody sucks at typing and attributed no meaning to it.

    Parent
    "teh gay" (5.00 / 3) (#70)
    by Steve M on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:45:02 PM EST
    is the term for the cooties that rub off on you if we allow the homosexual folks into mainstream life.

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#85)
    by ChiTownDenny on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:40:02 PM EST
    Would that be synonymous with "teh cooties"?

    Parent
    Mocks a tpyo .. typo made in heated haste (none / 0) (#96)
    by Ellie on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:05:27 PM EST
    ... teh for "the" or pwn3d for "owned", of the kind often made by some keyboard warrior predisposed to blow a gasket at the sight of certain menace du jour (gay, liberal, evil, fill in the cootie-matrix.)

    One cootie-ridden woman's interpretation.

    Parent

    Yup, and it comes ... (none / 0) (#127)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 06:26:47 AM EST
    from the gaming world.  It's movement to the blogosphere tells you how many bloggers spend their spare time.

    Parent
    This one should set Jeralyn's hair on fire (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:03:12 PM EST
    kdog too.

    Case dismissed against cop who falsified DUI arrests

    A Cook County judge today threw out an indictment against a Chicago Police officer accused of falsifying drunken driving arrests.

    Judge James M. Obbish said prosecutors were wrong to rely on statements Officer John Haleas gave to police investigators during an internal investigation of his conduct.

    Under union rules, such statements cannot be used against an officer in a criminal case, the judge said, ruling on a defense motion to dismiss the case.

    Haleas received a one-day suspension as a result of the internal department investigation. He was criminally charged in 2008 with perjury, official misconduct and obstructing justice, and was stripped of his police powers.



    Well (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by eric on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:52:45 PM EST
    I don't see why.  It sounds like the case was tossed for good reason.  I'm all for a judge tossing a case when prosecutors don't follow the rules and rights are violated - even if it is a cop that benefits.

    In short, its not about the defendant, its about the defendant's rights.

    Parent

    Back up (none / 0) (#126)
    by jbindc on Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 06:03:55 AM EST
    Because of the whole "cops are bad" theme?

    Parent
    As long as his badge and gun... (none / 0) (#75)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:10:28 PM EST
    have been taken away, no need for a fire extinguisher on my end...what a p.o.s. though.

    Parent
    Kucinich asks a good question (5.00 / 3) (#79)
    by lentinel on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:17:42 PM EST
    Why aren't more of us asking this question?
    Why doesn't someone ask Obama this question?

    Kucinich

    Blah blah blah (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by lentinel on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:20:10 PM EST
    What Matsui did is spectacular.
    It is worth a mention.

    Well (5.00 / 2) (#81)
    by Maryb2004 on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:21:24 PM EST
    The evil queen is always better than snow white and her 7 little men.

    But as someone who has always bleeded Cardinal red I understand.

    Enjoy the moment.

    The rest of us will wait for next year.

    Ft. Hood suspect legally purchased (5.00 / 3) (#83)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:35:52 PM EST
    "cop killer" gun.  AP

    Obama "officially" endorses House (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:02:19 PM EST
    HCR bill.  Is this a Friday afternoon news dump?  I found nothing on the White House website.

    lifenews

    Ahhhh....so, even (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:43:55 PM EST
    he didn't believe his own campaign speeches about what he promised he would do....

    Parent
    Interesting that abortion funding is in (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by nycstray on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:45:22 PM EST
    and women's health care not so much?

    Parent
    Help me out here . . . (none / 0) (#106)
    by nycstray on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:50:00 PM EST
    what are "affordability credits" and how do they work?

    Secondly, the bill gives members of the public affordability credits that can be used to pay for abortions.


    Parent
    Good question. Maybe, as we were (none / 0) (#108)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:52:24 PM EST
    discussing the other day, if a woman chooses abortion too often she runs out of credits?

    Parent
    You mean (none / 0) (#109)
    by hookfan on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:54:56 PM EST
    the right to choose is being discredited? Say it aint so. . .!!!

    Parent
    or chooses too many procedures (none / 0) (#111)
    by nycstray on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:01:31 PM EST
    in general and runs out?

    Has anyone admitted to reading the whole bill?

    Parent

    Here is NYT article on announcement (none / 0) (#112)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:05:33 PM EST
    on behalf of Pres. Obama:  NYT

    Nothing about funding for abortions, Planned Parenthood, etc.

    Parent

    He passionately promised the people (none / 0) (#114)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:10:09 PM EST
    he would give them access to the same great coverage their congressional members have, and it's on film.

    The GOP has their ads for 2012....a clip of his big promise, followed by the disappointing shell of a plan he delivered. He sure didn't bring that passion with him to the Oval office.

    Parent

    It makes perfect sense... (none / 0) (#1)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 12:54:44 PM EST
    for Americans to hate on teams that win too much, and forever love the underdog.  America was a huge dog in the American Revolution...its in our blood.

    And when America started dominating the world post WWII, we started in with the self-loathing:)

    What is this America you speak of (none / 0) (#2)
    by lilburro on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 12:55:45 PM EST
    don't you live in Gator Nation?

    Heh (none / 0) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:00:50 PM EST


    Parent
    If health care reform passes by just 1 vote... (none / 0) (#4)
    by magster on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:04:55 PM EST
    ...on Saturday, we have Sarah Palin et al to thank.

    It might also help answer the question for the cable news channels about which party gained the most on Tuesday.

    Might not be Saturday (none / 0) (#8)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:10:52 PM EST
    Might be moved to Sunday at least.  And there are 40 anti-abortion Dems who are still unhappy with the language, and then there's the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which is very unhappy with a provision to the bill that would bar undocumented workers from using their money to buy health insurance policies available through the exchange. None of these votes, despite what BTD thinks, is assured to vote yes, and the Dems can only lose 40 votes, as no Republicans will vote for it.

    Parent
    I saw the whip list linked on OpenLeft (none / 0) (#13)
    by magster on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:17:14 PM EST
    And there were at least about 10 names on that list of 44 that I can't see voting against reform if their vote is needed to assure passage.  

    Parent
    I posted the whip count (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:22:22 PM EST
    here yesteday.  It also didn't include everybody.  All those people may relent and vote for it, but when you start off with 40 anti-abortion Dems who aren't happy, there's your margin of error.  Add in the CHC - all you'd need is one of them (or Dennis Kucinich who hates this bill), and it's toast.

    Nancy still doesn't have the votes as of yet.

    Parent

    Hoyer agrees (none / 0) (#18)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:24:33 PM EST
     As House Democratic leaders labored to resolve last-minute disputes in their party about abortion and spending, the man who controls floor action suggested the healthcare debate could go into Sunday or next week.

    House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said "delay tactics" could prevent the vote from occurring at the 6 p.m. Saturday scheduled time. But he also acknowledged that leaders do not yet have the 218 votes they need among House Democrats to pass the bill.

    The Hill

    Parent

    He's just setting himself and Pelosi up (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by magster on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:37:57 PM EST
    to look like heroes.

    I will bet you the final vote will be 230 or more.

    (I also picked the Broncos last weekend, Corzine and No on 1 all to win).

    Parent

    I'm picking the Steelers this weekend (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:40:24 PM EST


    Parent
    What a record like that (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by me only on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:19:22 PM EST
    I am assuming that you are going to be hired as a talking head on TV.

    Parent
    I triple dog dare the blue dogs (none / 0) (#27)
    by magster on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:28:46 PM EST
    to defeat health care reform. They will end up like Creigh Deeds in their district -- lose "independents" anyway and have a depressed base.

    Parent
    The CHC is made up of Blue Dogs? (none / 0) (#30)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:29:30 PM EST


    Parent
    I triple dog dare the leadership (none / 0) (#35)
    by magster on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:34:28 PM EST
    to do anything more to alienate a demographic that delivered them to the promised land in 20

    Parent
    ...08. (none / 0) (#36)
    by magster on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:34:58 PM EST


    Parent
    Doesn't the Hispanic Caucus (none / 0) (#46)
    by Steve M on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:49:10 PM EST
    object to the Senate bill, not the House bill?

    Parent
    They do (none / 0) (#48)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:53:14 PM EST
    But there's a chance that language would be incorporated into a conference report.

    Congressional Hispanics have threatened to vote against the bill because of a last-minute threat from within the Democratic Caucus to bolster the House bill's immigration restrictions to match those included in the Senate Finance bill.

    And they're also fighting President Barack Obama, the original sponsor of the language prohibiting illegal immigrants from accessing the public health insurance exchange.

    On Thursday afternoon, four leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) traveled to the White House to meet with Obama on behalf of the entire group.

    Officially, the purpose of their meeting was to talk to the president about healthcare.

    But CHC members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the group's message was clear: Drop your insistence on preventing illegal immigrants from accessing the public exchange, even if their only option is to pay for insurance plans entirely out of their own pockets.

    A public exchange is a nationwide pool of health insurance providers that would facilitate access to coverage for individuals and employers.

    Obama has promoted the concept as a key component of healthcare reform.

    The House healthcare bill already bars illegal immigrants from enrolling in the public option and from receiving subsidies for health plans.

    But if the final Senate healthcare bill contains the exchange-prohibition provision that's in the Finance Committee bill, the provision could also be included in a conference report.

    And CHC members have said publicly that they would have a very difficult time voting for any healthcare bill that contained such a provision.



    Parent
    Is this a bill that is great for the (none / 0) (#22)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:27:17 PM EST
    American people? Do we want it to pass?

    Parent
    No (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:29:02 PM EST
    this is about getting anything passed to say they got a bill passed.

    Parent
    Suppose this is what the (none / 0) (#32)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:32:11 PM EST
    R's were hoping for?

    Parent
    Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:34:20 PM EST
    It certainly would embolden them.  It's easier to let someone shoot themselves in the foot then to have to pull the trigger.

    Parent
    Much, much more effective in (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:44:47 PM EST
    those negative campaign ads, as well.

    Parent
    I am a fan of the football Giants (none / 0) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:06:29 PM EST
    the Detroit Red Wings, US soccer team, cyclist Alberto Contador, tennis star Rafa Nadal, golfer Phil Mickleson, assorted NBA players (Nash, the Gator boys) and NFL players (Favre, the Gator boys), but if they lose, it's not the biggest thing.

    But my moods are very much affected by the results when the Gators and the Yanks play.  

    This was me during run-up to 1998 WS. (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:10:43 PM EST
    Maybe it is better to support a less-likely-to-win team.

    Oh, and burning question re Gators: re "half a game"

    Parent

    Answer: irrelevant, as penalty is now (none / 0) (#59)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:19:18 PM EST
    entire game.  Orlando Sentinel

    Parent
    Even the Red Wings too? (none / 0) (#10)
    by magster on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:12:45 PM EST
    Are you sure you aren't also a Republican?

    Parent
    Hey now! (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:13:42 PM EST
    The Red Wings are about as blue-collar as you can get.  Republican???

    Parent
    I became a Wings fan (none / 0) (#12)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:17:06 PM EST
    when the brought in the Russians in the 90s.

    Parent
    Or... (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:20:22 PM EST
    you could just say you became a Red Wings fan when they started winning...I don't know BTD, you're starting to sound fair-weather, only US Soccer is saving your cred:)

    Parent
    Mickelson? Hardly fair weather. (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:21:41 PM EST


    Parent
    He wins when Tiger doesn't right?... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:24:38 PM EST
    Ya got me though...I don't do golf.

    Or cycling for that matter...does that guy always win?

    Parent

    Haven't a clue. Baseball snob (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:25:44 PM EST
    until last Sat. when I followed the entire Gators game.  Must seek help ASAP.

    Parent
    Ddi you see Percy on Sunday? (none / 0) (#29)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:29:11 PM EST


    Parent
    I saw a clip on ESPN of Percy twisting, turning, (none / 0) (#31)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:31:29 PM EST
    high stepping.  Quite impressive.  Reminds me of a younger Charles Woodson.

    Parent
    Here's some baseball help (none / 0) (#125)
    by CoralGables on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 10:12:23 PM EST
    Saturday at 5:15 PT on the MLB network is what amounts to an All Star game from the Arizona Fall League.

    Problem for me is I'll be in Gator Heaven then, so AFL baseball has to take a backseat.

    Parent

    Did the Yankee win (none / 0) (#26)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:28:38 PM EST
    from 1964 to 1976?

    Did Florida win an SEC title in its first 60 years in the conference?

    Cuz the late 60s is when I became a fan of those teams.

    As for the Wings, the Devils blew them out in 94 and they could not beat Colorado for a long time. I just liked the Russians and how they played. It was great.

    Parent

    I'm only bustin' your nuts:).... (none / 0) (#37)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:34:59 PM EST
    out of jealousy of your various teams success...I back nuthin' but losers.

    Parent
    You know how it works (none / 0) (#40)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:39:40 PM EST
    when your teams DO win, you get to enjoy more.

    In 1980, Florida was 0-10-1. Florida did not win its first SEC championship until 1991, 60 years after the league was created.

    When the Gators won the national title in 1996, that was something else. Now of course Florida expects to contend every year. But it was not always that way.

    Parent

    For sure... (none / 0) (#45)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:47:59 PM EST
    and some have it worse than me...at least I had 1986 with the Mets, I was only 9 but I'll never forget that joy...some never get even one in their lifetime.


    Parent
    Ahh... a Mets fan. (none / 0) (#69)
    by desertswine on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:42:43 PM EST


    Parent
    Hm (none / 0) (#57)
    by Steve M on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:18:00 PM EST
    The Wings lost to Colorado the first time they played, in 1996.  In 1997 there was a rematch and the Wings won.  That's not really "a long time"!

    If you wanted to be a fan for the tough times in Detroit you should have been around in the 70s, when they were affectionately known as the "Dead Things."  Trust me though, you didn't miss much.

    Parent

    Not to mention the 70s Giants (none / 0) (#33)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:32:54 PM EST


    Parent
    U.S. Soccer (none / 0) (#73)
    by CST on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:48:06 PM EST
    the women routinely kick @ss.  And the men are a lot better than they used to be.

    Parent
    I came for the hockey but stayed for the octopus (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Ellie on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:27:40 PM EST
    That is one FUN sports venue!

    Parent
    Calamari, anyone? (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:28:21 PM EST


    Parent
    The year for a historically great seafood platter (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Ellie on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:43:59 PM EST
    Throw a truckload of garlic and lemon on this baby, add a few Great Lakes smelts and drop that puck!

    Parent
    Whoa!!!! (none / 0) (#47)
    by Steve M on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:52:38 PM EST
    You take that back right now.

    Detroit is the ultimate underdog city and the Red Wings are owned by one of the top philanthropists in town.

    Parent

    The Domino's right to life advocate? (none / 0) (#89)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:50:34 PM EST


    Parent
    Oh no! (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:01:55 PM EST
    The REd Wings are owned by Mike and Marian Ilitch - who own Little Caeser's Pizza

    This is their philanthropy

    One of Ilitch's first philanthropic efforts was the Little Caesars Love Kitchen, established in 1985. The traveling resturaunt was formed to feed the hungry and assist with food provisions during national disasters - most recently helping the flood victims and volunteers in North Dakota. The program has been recognized by former Presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and has served more than 2 million individuals in the United States and Canada.

    In 2006, inspired by a veteran returning to civilian life after losing both of his legs in war, Ilitch founded the Little Caesars Veterans Program to provide honorably discharged veterans with a business opportunity when they transition from service or seek a career change. Ilitch received the Secretary's Award from the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs for this program in 2007; it is the highest honor given to a civilian by the department. Today there are 50 Little Caesars Veteran franchisees who have applied more than $1.5 million in benefits.

    The Little Caesars Amateur Hockey Program, established by Ilitch in 1968, has provided opportunities for tens of thousands of youngsters over the years. Not only has it paved the way for a number of extremely talented players to make it to the NHL, it has helped develop character on and off the ice for those who have participated in the program.

    Additionally, Ilitch Charities for Children was founded in 2000 as a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving the lives of children in the areas of health, education and recreation. In 2008, the charity was renamed Ilitch Charities and its focus was broadened. The new charity invests in the community's future by supporting innovative, collaborative and measurable programs that promote economic development and spur job growth, as a means to address social issues such as poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and hunger.



    Parent
    Wonderful. (none / 0) (#95)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:05:04 PM EST


    Parent
    Wonderful philanthropy... (5.00 / 3) (#100)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:36:50 PM EST
    god awful pizza, if you can even call it pizza...actually I pity the fool who calls that tripe pizza.

    Parent
    I know what you mean. I did have Obama's (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:38:13 PM EST
    favorite pizza in St. Louis.  Quite tasty.  Chicago-esque but not quite as gloppy.

    Parent
    You're a baseball snob... (5.00 / 2) (#107)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:50:14 PM EST
    I'm a pizza snob...even that Chicago style stuff, though good food I'm sure, is not pizza:)

    Parent
    You are soooo predictable. (none / 0) (#110)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:58:24 PM EST


    Parent
    Pan Pizza. (none / 0) (#115)
    by ChiTownDenny on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:16:06 PM EST
    Sometimes called deep dish.  It's delish-shous!

    Lou Malnati's

    Mmmm.  It's Friday night....

    Parent

    Looks tasty Den... (5.00 / 1) (#117)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:44:39 PM EST
    but this is pizza.

    Parent
    That's an appetizer. :) (none / 0) (#118)
    by ChiTownDenny on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:48:23 PM EST


    Parent
    Heck no (none / 0) (#92)
    by Steve M on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:01:25 PM EST
    That nutjob used to own the Tigers but that was like 20 years ago.  The Red Wings (and, now, the Tigers too) are owned by Mike Ilitch, the Little Caesar's Pizza guy.

    Parent
    My heart breaks every year for the Cubs, (none / 0) (#97)
    by caseyOR on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:27:05 PM EST
    or maybe because of the Cubs. Also dear to that heart are the Bears and the Irish of Notre Dame. I was a Catholic schoolgirl in central Illinois, and I learned college football by watching the Irish on teevee every week. The allegiance to the Cubs and Bears is hereditary.

    My list of faves includes the Yankees( always my AL team. I yearned in my pre-Title IX life to be a pitcher and Whitey Ford was my idol.), both the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers, the hapless Illini, and any team with Peyton Manning.

    I like tennis (Serena Williams), cycling (the accident prone Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer) US women's soccer, and each and every track and field event (shoutout to Kara Goucher).

    Absolutely no interest in hockey or the NBA. Trailblazers? Meh.

    Parent

    The 11 year old boy I tutor announced (none / 0) (#98)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:31:01 PM EST
    with great seriousness recently that another way to get a college scholarship is sports.  What to say?  He plays soccer.  I sd. you have to pick the sport colleges want and you have to play it really well.  For example, my niece got a partial free ride with crew.  But males are a club sport in crew.  His school is talking up lacrosse.  We had to research whether one uses a racket in lacrosse.

    Parent
    But the Yankees actually are objectively evil (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ellie on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:10:14 PM EST
    It's a well known fact (and you could look it up!)

    Is the country ready... (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:11:03 PM EST
    for Senator Clavin?

    Just hope he is better under campaign pressure than he was under Jeopardy pressure:)

    Change is coming! (none / 0) (#14)
    by ChiTownDenny on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:18:24 PM EST
    No one is happy about "teh change"; not those who support change (the pace of change or the direction of change), nor those who oppose change (the pace of change or the direction of change).  But no change to gun laws....
    Orlando!

    No heart, stomach for latest shootout media circus (none / 0) (#20)
    by Ellie on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:25:08 PM EST
    For the sake of decency and grace, I wish there were some kind of respite between the latest tragedy, and agenda-driven Buzzard Punditry swooping in and feasting on it like it was screed fodder.

    No. (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Fabian on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:36:43 PM EST
    I like it this way.  (not the shootings)

    The media managed to spread multiple bits of misinformation yesterday, partly due to the military at Fort Hood giving them said information.  As a result, they had to correct their own accounts repeatedly.

    Now...
    Let's see if they learned their lesson and if they'll stop with the speculation and report something ONLY when they have verified information to report.

    Parent

    In the new 24/7/365 news cycle... (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:40:58 PM EST
    such responsible journalism would mean a lot of dead air...and advertisers don't like dead air.

    So forget about it kid:)

    Parent

    Greenwald says best to ignore first (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:01:29 PM EST
    24 hours of reporting.  Then pay attention.

    Parent
    It's the race to be first with the news (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:08:20 PM EST
    so they can lead into every story with: "KOMO was first to report...." and "you heard it here FIRST".

    The reporting yesterday seemed to be anyone they could find who had been on the base. The sources may have been six degrees separated from the first person who uttered "I think they killed the shooter".

    It is sloppy reporting, IMHO. They can capture people just saying there was a shooting and from the activity on the scene, it appears to be more than one victim...when we have credible information to give you, we will report immediately.

    Parent

    Admittedly (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:24:08 PM EST
    Between listening to CNN on the radio on the way home last night, and then watching for a little bit, I was so tired of hearing Wolf Blitzer (and interrupting other people) to say, "But remember that the first accounts from the scene aren't always accurate." I appreciate what he was doing, but it got annoying.

    Parent
    Yes, but the other major media (5.00 / 2) (#67)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:39:56 PM EST
    problem is they can't just announce breaking news, they need to dominate and premptively cancel regular broadcasting for hours while they report speculations and misinformation. A blip that says it happened, back to regular programming, then report the story when they have all the facts.

    Then, Wolf wouldn't need to keep interrupting the people who are spewing useless, and false information just because someone in the gathering crowd muttered what they had heard.

    Parent

    Media (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by lentinel on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:11:14 PM EST
    Let's see if they learned their lesson and if they'll stop with the speculation and report something ONLY when they have verified information to report.

    They won't learn because they don't care.

    Parent

    Would that they learned from their mistakes ... (none / 0) (#49)
    by Ellie on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:00:45 PM EST
    ... instead of the most outlandish overreaches being rewarded with attention and ratings. The retractions or corrections are always yadda yadda'd, naturally.

    I can somewhat get the earnest, true believers -- who see the world through their particular, narrow blinkered view -- glomming onto the latest spectacle.

    The worst are the opportunistic ghouls who approach it with a loose plan to cut a longtime enemy.

    Parent

    War (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by lentinel on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:09:43 PM EST
    I wonder if these media half-wits will focus on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - which are enough to send anyone over the edge.
    I'm not saying it excuses or explains his behavior... but we already know that there have been many suicides by soldiers who find themselves in these pointless and amoral wars. Suicide and homicide might be closely linked.

    Parent
    These things (none / 0) (#24)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 01:27:51 PM EST
    always happen together.  Don't know if it's copycat or not.

    Parent
    Yankees are the best team to lose to. (none / 0) (#51)
    by Samuel on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:02:07 PM EST
    I'm from/in Philadelphia and yea I hate that they've outspent the second biggest spender in the MLB by around half a billion in the last 10 years but people know they did it, they realize it and it would have been more dramatic if they had lost for that reason.  

    That said, I'm not sure I understand how people get excited when they win.  They bought baseball Shack, another Ace of aces and the best fielding switch-hitting 1st baseman in baseball.  

    Yankeles (none / 0) (#52)
    by lentinel on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:05:52 PM EST
    I don't what there is to hate about the Yankees.

    In addition to their capacities as individual players, they all have the capacity to function as teammates. So if so-and-so isn't hitting, someone else does something to score a run - or prevent the other team from getting one.

    And - let's face it - what Matsui did was spectacular.

    Indeed (none / 0) (#86)
    by eric on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:41:46 PM EST
    the best team that money can buy.

    Parent
    Home team-erism (none / 0) (#58)
    by CST on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:19:15 PM EST
    I honestly don't understand rooting for teams fom various locations, I guess if you move around a lot or come from some place w/o a home team.

    For me, it's simple.  Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, New England (let's face it - Boston) Patriots, New England (again let's face it - Boston) Revolution, and U.S. men's and women's soccer, and the U.S. in all things Olympic.

    Other than that, root against all things NY, but ESPECIALLY the Yankees.  I don't know whether it's "newfangled" or not, but I do know that I've been hating on the yankees as long as I've been watching baseball, and hating on the yankees kinda comes with the territory as a sox fan.

    However, I will say, I can appreciate the "Evil Queen" appreciation since Boston started winning title after title (I wasn't around for the earlier dynasites).  Being a Pats fan in Steelers country gave me that.

    Yep... (none / 0) (#63)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:30:16 PM EST
    its easy when you're from a town with all major sports represented...you're born with your sports allegiances.  

    That's what I tell myself anyway...I never had a choice:)  Even though NY has multiple teams in the major sports, each household has only one team per sport, with a few exceptions, like the nycstray household.

    Parent

    Yea (none / 0) (#72)
    by CST on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:46:33 PM EST
    poor souls who aren't told who to root for must run around the country looking for homes.

    Much easier to be born with it.

    Parent

    I hope you weren't refering to me . . . (none / 0) (#76)
    by nycstray on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:12:25 PM EST


    Parent
    So, is Derek Jeter engaged or not? (none / 0) (#78)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:15:31 PM EST


    Parent
    no one in particular... (none / 0) (#82)
    by CST on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:31:48 PM EST
    many people in general :)

    Parent
    Try living in Iowa... (none / 0) (#120)
    by Raskolnikov on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 06:33:34 PM EST
    We have no major sports teams so we all have to pick one of the neighbor states.  It's so arbitrary!

    Parent
    Poss. Olympic demo sport? Beauty Queen Boxing (none / 0) (#64)
    by Ellie on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:30:26 PM EST
    The card: Miss England vs. Miss Manchester.

    Miss England's a heptathlete and niece of the great Linford Christie (a household name to fans of Track & Field).

    Now there's an area of sports that I have to watch with paramedics standing by. I used to follow it more closely, year round (back in the day) but when a big event is on, I'm glued and actually work my schedule to catch the events.

    Yeah, and (none / 0) (#77)
    by me only on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 03:14:29 PM EST
    Wal-Mart, ExxonMobile, Microsoft and Goldman-Sachs merely represent the platinum standard by which the success of other corporations would measure themselves.

    This gets curiouser and curiouser (none / 0) (#99)
    by jbindc on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:31:35 PM EST
    Link

    (posted at 5:20 pm)

    Amid intense lobbying by the Obama administration, House Democratic leaders struggled Friday for the final votes needed to pass sweeping health care legislation, working to ease concerns among Hispanic holdouts and abortion foes.

    "We're very close" to having enough votes to prevail, said Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, although he added a scheduled Saturday vote could slip by a day or two and sought to pin the blame on possible Republican delaying tactics.

    SNIP

    Obama and his administration lobbied furiously for its passage.

    Rep. Jason Altmire, a second-term Democrat from western Pennsylvania, said he received calls during the day from the president, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Their message was "this is a historic moment. You don't want to end up with nothing," he said.

    Altmire added his callers emphasized the legislation would change once it left the House, "but if you kill it now it's over" for the foreseeable future. He said he remained undecided on his vote.
    Pet peeve... (none / 0) (#105)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 04:47:58 PM EST
    automated collection agent calls...one of my roomies has some outfit chasing him for some debt, or several debts, I don't know...and most everyday the answering machine is full of automated collection calls.  "If you are 'insert name here', please press 1.  If you are not 'insert name here', please hang up now."  Does anybody on earth take orders from a machine and press 1?  How do collection agents with this business model collect from anybody?  I'm at a loss...

    I used to get almost daily calls from a bank (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:07:28 PM EST
    in NY.  Not looking for me but thought I could shed some light on where there card-holder was.  Last call was at 5:00 am my time.  I sd., doesn't federal law require your to call no earlier than 8:00 am?  Big gulp.  Where are you?  CA.  End of calls.  Worked like a charm.

    Parent
    I'm not pressing 1... (none / 0) (#116)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:41:40 PM EST
    to talk to these people, for all I know I'd just get transfered to the automated supervisor.

    Whats killing me is trying to figure out how the collection agency is paying their bills...is it just some guy with an automated calling thing in his garage just looking for some beer money?  Cuz its gotta be a 500,000-1 shot.

    Parent

    Does the number show up on caller id? (none / 0) (#119)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 05:54:37 PM EST
    If so, for a minimal fee, you can block that number on your home phone.

    Parent
    Phones that block numbers (none / 0) (#121)
    by caseyOR on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 07:22:59 PM EST
    If you don't want to pay the ongoing fee that oculus mentioned, there are phones that will block numbers for you. Panasonic makes just such a phone. I would imagine others do also.

    Parent
    Yankee lovers are (none / 0) (#122)
    by Rashomon66 on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 08:22:27 PM EST
    ...sort of odd unless they live [or have lived] in NY. Othewise, it seems a good many people like them ONLY because they have this great tradition. It makes as much sense as hating them for the same reason.

    Then there is the money issue.
    If they were merely a good or great team like the Gators they could be ignored. But the Yankees are the best ballclub money can buy. Put a cap on baseball salaries and the sport will get better.

    Interesting re targets at Fort Hood (none / 0) (#123)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 08:44:13 PM EST
    as perhaps Hasan was taking out future coworkers -- apparently many from the unit which he was to accompany to Afghanistan (several of the dead just had arrived at Fort Hood a day or two before for deployment, too).  And/or was this a way to delay deployment?

    Five soldiers from Wisconsin, all with backgrounds in medical or social work, were among the 50 people killed or injured by an Army psychiatrist at Fort Hood, a connection that's leading officials at the Army base to explore whether the shooter was scheduled to deploy with a Madison-based unit.

    The man identified as the shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan. Madison's 467th Medical Detachment, also known as a Combat Stress Unit, was also in the process of being deployed, a source with knowledge of the matter said Friday.

    Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, who died in Thursday's shootings, was a member of that unit. So was Grant Moxon, 23, a mental health specialist from Lodi, who was shot in the leg.

    The three other victims from Wisconsin were all health care professionals or social workers, but it could not immediately be confirmed that they were part of the same unit.

    Russell Seager, 51, of Mount Pleasant, also died in the shootings and was a nurse practitioner and instructor at Briggs & Stratton College in Milwaukee. Amber Bahr, a nutritionist at Fort Hood from Random Lake, was injured when she was shot in the back. Dorie Carskadon, a social worker and the team leader working at the Madison Vet Center, was hurt in the shootings.
    Officer sifts through defense lawyer's files (none / 0) (#124)
    by barryluda on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 09:55:30 PM EST
    I would love to hear Jeralyn's or BTD's take on this amazing story:

    Could it possibly be legal for a law enforcement official to meander up to the defense table, begin reading the defense team's files, then take documents from said files without notifying the attorney?


    Friday Afternoon Open Thread | 125 comments (125 topical)

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